BBC Female Presenters Barred from Pursuing New Equal Pay Claims
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Four senior BBC female presenters lost their bid to pursue new equal pay claims against the broadcaster following a recent preliminary hearing. Martine Croxall, Karin Giannone, Kasia Madera, and Annita McVeigh, aged between 49 and 55, had launched a legal case against the BBC, citing age and gender discrimination.
Judge Rules Against Pursuing New Equal Pay Claims
Despite their allegations of being unfairly paid less than male colleagues, Judge Sarah Goodman ruled that the women could not pursue new claims because they had previously settled a similar dispute four years ago. However, their accusation that age and gender discrimination led to an unfair hiring process, excluding them from chief presenter positions on the relaunched BBC News channel in January, will still be considered.
BBC Legal Team Defends Their Position
Lawyers for the BBC argued that the presenters were attempting to revisit old issues, stating they were "seeking a second bite of the cherry on the same set of facts." The tribunal accepted this position and required new information to substantiate the claims. A BBC spokesperson stated, "We are satisfied with the decision and that the tribunal has recognized our stance. We won't comment further at this stage."
Upcoming Hearing and Allegations of Victimization
All four women remain employed by the BBC, drawing salaries while off air. They will testify jointly during the full hearing set for March 17, arguing they faced "victimization, harassment, and reputational damage" due to their earlier equal pay dispute and union activities.
Controversial Hiring Practices Questioned
The chief presenter roles went to Matthew Amroliwala (62), Christian Fraser (50), Lucy Hockings (49), and Maryam Moshiri (46). McVeigh eventually accepted a senior role after Yalda Hakim (40) left for Sky News. The presenters’ witness statements claimed that their demotion and pay cuts weren't experienced by male colleagues or younger female staff. They described the hiring process as "bogus," highlighting how it impacted their well-being.
Health and Well-being Impact on Female Presenters
"Reports from the BBC’s clinical psychologists will illustrate the harmful physical and mental health effects of the treatment we endured," they said. While an internal BBC investigation did not uncover any wrongdoing, it affirmed that the recruitment process was appropriate and unbiased.
Joint Testimonies to Address Alleged Discrimination
The presenters expressed relief that the judge would hear their discrimination claims together, despite the BBC's attempts to separate them. "We are glad the tribunal decided to combine our four discrimination cases into one hearing, preventing eight separate and costly procedures."
The women remain determined to achieve pay parity and criticized the BBC's legal team for using a "novel argument" to halt their claims.
